Buffalo - Buffalo Bisons Manager Ken Oberkfell has named LHP Jonathon Niese as his Opening Day Starter. Niese will take the mound Thursday, April 9 as the Bisons open up the 2009 season against the Pawtucket Red Sox at Coca-Cola Field (3:05 p.m.).
            Scheduled to oppose Niese is Pawtucket RHP Enrique Gonzalez.
            Niese, 22, is coming off a spectacular 2008 season where he was given the Mets’ Sterling Organizational Pitcher of the Year Award, emblematic of the top pitcher on the minor league level. The southpaw went a combined 11-8 with a 3.13ERA in 29 starts at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A New Orleans.
His stellar campaign earned him a major league promotion to the Mets in just his fourth professional season. After having his contract purchased on September 1, Niese went 1-1 with a 7.07ERA in three starts with New York. He tossed eight shutout innings on September 13 vs. Atlanta to pick up his first big league win.

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